February is a month for love, and there is no greater love than a fan's love of Star Trek, so it's appropriate that Atari and Cryptic announce a February release date for Star Trek Online.

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Star Trek Online is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game based in the near future, or at least the near future of the Star Trek universe. Players become high-ranking Starfleet officers, customizing their ships and boldly going many different places, both in space on planet side. Beta testing is now underway, and will likely continue until the game's newly-announced February 2nd North American release date.

"Star Trek Online is poised to become the ultimate Star Trek gaming experience," said Jim Wilson, CEO of Atari, Inc. "Throughout the last four decades, Star Trek has been a mainstay in pop culture, influencing legions of fans through television, film, and more. Star Trek Online opens a whole new chapter and expands upon this incredible universe in 2010."

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While I am excited by the concept of the game, the more stats-based side of me is even more interested in seeing how many Trek fans flock take to the game. It could become the new online destination for Trek fandom, or it could wind up one of those deserts where the crew of the Enterprise tends to run across the odd megalomaniacal robot.